Ink dispensing apparatus



Nov. 27, 1962 H. D. SMALLEY, JR 3,065,886

INK DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 24, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet l F/c 2 g 35r 28 5 27a Z 230 r- E Z3 Wye/woe #421/57 12 5414A 4 EgJe.

2%,- M, v m- United States Patent Q" 3,065,886 INK DISPENSING APPARATUSHarvey D. Smalley, Jr., Perham, Minn. Filed st. 24, 1960, Ser. No.64,378 2 Claims. (Cl. 222-4005) This invention relates to ink-dispensingapparatus for use with printing presses and more particularly topneumatic pressure type ink supply mechanism for use in supplying ink toprinting press fountains.

An object of this invention is to provide a novel pneumatic typeink-dispensing apparatus, of simple and inexpensive construction, foruse in supplying ink to printing press fountains.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel pneumatic typeink-dispensing apparatus including a pressurized housing having areadily removable ink receptacle disposed therein connectable with thefountain of a printing press in fluid conducting relation therewith topermit ink within the receptacle to be dispensed therefrom into theprinting press fountain without any ink directly contacting the interiorof the housing, thus obviating the need for cleaning the latter.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a novel pneumatictype ink-dispensing apparatus for use with printing presses andincluding a pressurized housing for receiving a conventionalopen-toppedink container disposed therein, the housing having a readilyremovable cover including means for facilitating quick connectionthereof to the ink fountain of a printing press, thus permitting rapidand efficient change of different kinds of ink for use with the printingpress.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention will more fullyappear from the following description made in connection with theaccompanying drawing wherein like character references refer to the sameor similar parts throughout the several views, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic end elevational view of the conventionalprinting press incorporating my novel inkdispensing apparatus;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical section through the inkdispensingapparatus showing details thereof;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view similar to FIG. 2 throughthe ink-dispensing apparatus including a slightly modified form of coverattachment means and illustrating a modified ink container disposedtherein; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view similar to FIG. 4 throughthe ink dispensing apparatus and illustrating a still further modifiedform of the ink container disposed therein.

Referring now to the drawings and more specifically to FIG. 1 it will beseen that one embodiment of my invention is shown incorporated in aprinting press which may be of conventional construction and includesside supports or standards 11. An elongate transversely extendingpick-up or ink-distributing roll 12 extends between and is journalledfor support on the side supports 11 for rotation relative thereto.Printing press 11 is also provided with printing rolls 13 and 14 whichare also rotatably supported on the side supports or standards 11 andthe pick-up and printing rolls are arranged to be rotated at relativelyfast peripheral speed in a manner well known in the art.

The uppermost portions of the side supports 11, as best seen in FIG. 1,are provided with brackets 15 each having a set screw 16. A disposableinking mechanism, designated in its entirety by the reference numeral 17and more fully described and illustrated in my co-pending application,Serial Number 30,512 extends between and is detachably connected to thebrackets 15 by means of the set screw 16. This disposable inkingmechanism 17 includes Bfiiiliflbh Patented Nov. 27, 1952 ice anelongated substantially tubular fountain member 18 which is formed ofplastic material and which has one end thereof closed as at 19. Althoughnot shown in the drawing, fountain member 18 is also provided with aplurality of longitudinally aligned discharge apertures each of which isin communicating relation with the interior of the fountain member.Inking mechanism 17 also includes means for controlling the flow of inkfrom the elongate fountain member 18 and this means is comprised of avalve mechanism 20 which is in the form of an elongate sleeve formed offlexible impervious plastic material.

This sleeve 20 although not shown in the drawings of the instantapplication but clearly described in my copending application isprovided with a plurality of longi tudinally aligned apertures eachbeing disposed closely adjacent the apertures of the elongate fountainmember 18. A plurality of tensioning means in the form of threaded bolts21 is carried by a fountain member 18 and engages the sleeve 20 forvarying the tension on the sleeve which in turn controls the flow of inkthrough the apertures in the fountain member and thereafter through theapertures in the sleeve in a manner clearly described in my co-pendingapplication.

As clearly described in my co-pending application, the inking mechanismdescribed therein permitted an operator to change from one can of ink toanother without requiring the time consuming washing and cleaningoperation of the printing press. I have also provided a uniquelyconstructed ink-dispensing mechanism which permits quick change of thekind of ink for the printing press while obviating the need of acleaning or washing operation.

This uniquely constructed ink-dispensing apparatus designed in itsentirety by the reference numeral 22 includes a pressurized housing 23which in the embodiment shown is provided with a bottom 24 havingupstanding peripheral walls 25 rigidly formed therewith. Housing 23 maybe formed of any suitable rigid material such as steel or the like andit will be seen that this pressurized housing will be supported adjacentone side of the printing press by a bracket 11a secured to one of thestandards 11, as best seen in FIG. 1. The upper marginal portion of theperipheral walls 25 of the housing is provided with an out-turnedannular flange 25a.

Housing 23 is provided with a removable cover 26 having a plurality ofover center locking means 27 carried thereby having suitable hooks 27afor engagement with the outturned annular flange 25a of the peripheralwalls 25. A gasket 28 is interposed between the cover and the upper edgeportion of the peripheral walls 25 to provide a fluid seal thereat. Whenthe cover 26 is secured to the peripheral walls of the housing 23 asubstantially closed pressure chamber 23a is defined within the interiorof the housing.

A threaded inlet 29 is carried by the cover 26 and is adapted to beconnected to a source of air under pressure for supplying air to thechamber 23a. The pressurized housing 23 is also provided with a threadeddischarge outlet 30 which in the embodiment shown extends upwardly fromthe cover 26 of the housing.

Referring again to FIG. 2, it will be seen that an ink receptacle 31 ispositioned within the chamber 23a of housing 23 and this ink receptacleis of a size and shape of those normally used in the printing industry.The ink normally used in the printing industry, as is well known in theart, is produced in one to five pound cans and it is pointed out thatthe container or receptacle 3 1 may also be formed of metal in themanner of the conventional ink cans or the receptacle may be formed ofplastic or other rigid material. In the embodiment shown, the receptacle31 includes a bottom 32 and upstanding peripheral walls 32a and when thereceptacle is positioned within the housing 23 the top thereof is ,thechamber 23a. sealing. relation with the housing 23 will also beconnected to the conduit branch 36 by means of the threaded inlet, 29 hThe air pressureregulator mechanismdO will a removed so that the inkwithin the receptacle will be subjected to the pneumatic pressure withinthe chamber23a.- I v L Arr elongate conduit 33, as best seen in FIG. 2,eir tends through the discharge outlet 3% of the housing 23 influid-sealing relation therewith. It will be seen that a sealing orpacking nut 34 threadedly engages the threaded outlet 30 and urgesarrannularv sealing gasket 34:: into engagement with the externalsurface of the conduit 33 so that a fluid seal is formed thereat andwhich precludes the escape of air therefrom. It will be noted thatconduit 33 extends into the chamber 23a and is in sortable into the inkreceptacle 31 so that the ink may flow through the conduit once pressureis supplied to the chamber 23a. Conduit 34 is preferably formed ofsubstantially rigid material such as plastic or the like and projectsupwardly from the packer nut 34 as best seen in IG a.v t o A The otherend of conduit 34 has acoupling carried in fluid-sealing relationthereby and this coupling 35 is connected to the end of the disposablefountain 18 in fluid-conducting relation therewith.

v Referring now to FIG. 1, it will be seen that the threaded inlet 29 isconnected to a conduit branch 36; a three way valve 37 is disposed influid-conducting relation with respect to conduit 36 and this valve 37,as described in my co-pending application, also includes a handleactuator 38 for actuating the flow of air therethrough. Valve 37 is alsodisposed in fluid-controlling relation with respect to a relief conduit39 wherebyair may be discharged therethrough and is interconnected to anair pressure regulatorvalve mechanism 40 having an indicator gauge 41associated therewith and which is interposed in fiuid controllingrelation with respect to a conduit 42 whichin turn is connected to asource of air under pressure (not shown). The air pressure to the inkdispensing apparatus 22 is controlled by the air pressure regulator 40and the actuator handle 38 of valve 37 permits the pressure to be turnedon and off by moving the same between operative and inoperativepositions. I h V k In operation, an ink receptacle 31 having the topthereofremoved will be disposedwithin the chamber 23a of housing 23 andthe conduit 34 will beinserted through the inlet 30 of the cover 26 andinto the ink receptacle 31. It has been found that when the conduit 33is extended or ,inserted into the receptacle 31 a substantial fluid sealis formed around the exterior surface of the conduit by means of thepacking nut 34 and sealing gasket 34a so that air will not escape fromthe interior of The cover 26 when connected in be set to permit apredetermined amount of airto flow to the chamber 23a and the actuatorhandle 3f for valve v37 is moved from an ofi position to an onpositionto thereby permit air to how into the interior of housing 23.

This pneumatic air pressure within the chamber; 23a ,will cause the inkwithin the open top receptacle 31 to flow outwardly'through theconduit33 and into the elongate fountain member 18. The ink willthereafter pass outwardly through the discharge apertures in thefountain and throughthe apertures in the sleeve 20 andonto the pick-uproll 12. If it is desirable to change the kind .or color on the ink, thevalve 38 will be moved to an inoperative position and the cover 2 6 ofthe housing will .be removed therefrom. The ink receptacle 31 maybequickly removed and a new ink receptacle connected in different kind 'ofink without necessitating the washing of the pressure chamber 23a.

Referring now to FIG. 3, it will be seen that I have provided adifferent locking or retaining mechanism for securing the cover 26 insealing relation upon the angular flange 25a of the housing 23, Thelocking means shown in FIG. 3 is generally designated by the referencenumeral 50 and this locking means includes a plurality of elongatethreaded elements 51, each having its respective lower end disposedbetween a pair of radially extending ears 52, fixedly connected to theouter circumferential surfaceof the peripheral walls 25 of the, housing23. A pivot pin 53 secures the, lower terminal portion of the threadedelement 51 to its associate pair of ears 52 to permit the elongatethreaded element to swing into and out of locking position with. thecover 26 and annular flange 25d. Actually each of the threaded elements51 will be positioned within a slot 25b formed in the a'rrnular flange25a and a registering slot 26:: formed in the cover 2 6 when thethreaded element is in locki'ngpbsition and a wing nut 54 threadedlyengages the upper terminal portion of the threaded element 51 to causethe cover 26 to be urged into "sealing relation with the annular flan ge25a. r r r h A modified ink container 6=1Iis shown disposed within thehousing 23 illustrated in FIG. .3 and this container includes a lower orbottomwall 62 and upstanding 'p'eripheral wall 62a. :This container isalso provided with a cover 63 which is secured to the upper peripheraledges of the peripheralwall 62a and this cover 63 is provided with apair of frangible knockout-portions 64 and 65;, eachiof which are formedby slightly scoring the cover 63 in annular fashion to, define therespective knockout portions. These frangible portions may also beconstructed of the same materials as the cover but having 'a thicknesssubstantially less than the thickness of the cover. This construction ofthe portions '64 and 65 also renders ther'n readily frangible. In use,the knockout portions 64 arid 65 will be rea'dily'ope'ned or knocked outand the conduit 34 will be extended through the opening 64 while theopening defined by the removed knockout portion 65 will permit the airpre's'sure't'o be passed 'ifito'the interior of the container 6-1 tothereby force the ink fluid upwardly through the tube or conduit 34 ina'rnanner to preclude any spillage of the ink into the interior of thepressurized housing 23. .Again it will be noted that this arrangementpermits the pressurized housing to be used successively with containershaving different kinds of inks without necessitating the washing oftheinterior of the housing. I 7 7 Referring new to FIG. 4, it will be seenthat I have provided a still further embodiment of the ink containerwhich is readily adaptable for "use with my inking mechanism and thiscontainer 71 also includes a bottom wall 72 and an upstanding peripheralwall 72a and is adapted to contain a predeterminedquantity of inktherein. Actuallysorne of the inks used in printing vary in viscosityand some types are of relatively'thick consistency. In order to geteffective discharge of such from the container 71 through the conduit34,1 have proyided the container 71 with a'cover 73 having an'upturnedannular'flang'e 74 which engages the inner circumferential surface ofthe container 71 for sliding movernent relative to the upstandingcircumferential walls 72a. This cover is also provided with a knockoutportion formed of frangible material which defines 'an opening 75 whenremoved therefrom. A sealing means 76 in the fornr of a small O-ring maybe provided to effectively seal the area around the knockout portion. Inu-se the cover 73 will be left in place and conduit 34 will be insertedthrough the knockout portion 75 somewhat in the manner of the containerillustrated in FIG. 3. Upon the introduction of air under pressurethrough the inlet 29, the cover 73will. be forced, downwardly by theair-pressure thus causing the ink to be thereafter forced upwardlyoutwardly through the conduit 34 and through the ink dispensingfountain. Thus, it will be seen that through the use of my uniquelyconstructed ink containers and pressurized ink dispensing apparatus inkswhich vary in viscosity may be readily dispensed without any spillagecausing ink in subsequent requirement of cleaning of the apparatus inthe event it is desirable to use a different color or kind of ink atsome subsequent time.

It will be seen from the foregoing description that I have provided anovel ink-dispensing apparatus of the pneumatic pressure type whichpermits rapid and quick changing from one kind of ink to another withoutrequiring washing or cleaning of the ink-dispensing apparatus.

It will also be seen from the preceding paragraphs that my uniqueink-dispensing apparatus is arranged and constructed so that the inkreservoir is actually comprised of a container in which the ink isshipped thus obviating the need of troublesome handling and transfer ofthe ink.

It will also be noted that my unique ink-dispensing apparatus alsoincludes ink receptacles having frangible portions for ready breakingthereof to permit the ink to readily discharge for the container whensubjected to pneumatic pressure.

It will, therefore, be seen a great saving of time and labor may beobtained through the use of my novel inkdispensing apparatus thuspermitting the printing press to be used in a more efiicient manner thanheretofore known.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made inthe form, details, arrangement and proportions of the various partswithout departing from the scope of my invention.

What is claimed is:

1. Ink dispensing apparatus for use with printing press machines, saidapparatus comprising an open top housing defining a pressure chambertherewithin,

a cover member detachably secured to said housing in fluid sealingrelation therewith to close the open top thereof and to thereby seal thepressure chamber from the exterior,

said cover having a discharge outlet opening therein communicating withsaid pressure chamber,

an inlet coupling element secured to said cover in communicatingrelation with said chamber and being connectable to a source of airunder pressure to permit a constant flow of air under predeterminedpressure to be supplied to said chamber,

a hollow, open-top disposable receptacle positioned within said housingand containing a supply of ink therewithin,

an elongate vertically disposed conduit projecting through saiddischarge outlet and having its lower end portion extending into saidreceptacle, the upper end portion of said conduit being connectabledirectly to the ink fountain of a printing press in fluid communicationtherewith whereby ink within said receptacle is caused to flow directlythrough said conduit in response to the positive air pressure exerted onthe surface of the ink supply within the receptacle.

2. A printing press having in combination an ink fountain,

an ink dispensing apparatus including an open top housing defining apressure chamber therewithin,

means for mounting said housing on said printing press in closeproximity to said ink fountain,

a cover member detachably secured to said housing in fluid-sealingrelation therewith to close the opentop thereof and to seal the pressurechamber from the exterior,

said cover having a discharge outlet opening therein communicating withsaid pressure chamber,

an inlet coupling element secured to said cover in communicatingrelation with said chamber and being connectable to a source of airunder pressure to permit a constant flow of air under predeterminedpressure to be supplied to said pressure chamber,

a hollow open-top disposable receptacle positioned within said housingand containing a supply of ink therein,

an elongate vertically disposed conduit projecting through saiddischarge outlet and having its lower end portion extending into saidink containing receptacle, and having its upper end connected directlyto the ink fountain of the printing press in fluid communicationtherewith,

a cover slidably engaging the inner wall surfaces of the ink containingreceptacle to close the open top of the same,

said cover including a frangible portion through which the lower endportion of said conduit projects,

and said cover being downwardly slidable into said receptacle inresponse to air pressure exerted on the upper surface thereof to forcethe ink within said receptacle to flow through said conduit and into theprinting press ink fountain.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,185,668

